DIY Blackout Curtains

Learn how to make easy DIY Blackout Curtains. These affordable room darkening curtains can dress up any room or home.

Almost two years ago, I made a set of insulated curtains for a window off of our kitchen. They were one of my first sewing projects, and they were fine. A bit small if you ask me, but I worked hard on them and used them proudly.

One of the things that I can’t stand about store-bought insulated curtains, is the assumption that if you want energy savings, you like really ugly and solid, boring colored fabric. And, also, you love to show the whole world that the back of your curtains are white and lame. It is like wearing your “bloated days” underwear on the outside of your clothes. No thank you!

After learning a little bit more about sewing (just a bit…I’m still so (sew?) new to it), I set my sights on making some better DIY blackout curtains for the kitchen window. I wanted them to be light blocking and insulated, as that part of the house gets the brutal part of the sun during the summer, and is above an uninsulated garage (brrrrr in the winter).

While at the fabric store, I sent Troy two pictures of fabric I liked, and he picked a grey geometric pattern. The blackout fabric was incredibly expensive, so I had to come up with a different plan. Instead, I used big scraps of thin quilt batting that I had leftover from previous quilts. It was really easy to work with, and I’m thrilled with the results.

How to Make DIY Blackout Curtains

-4 cuts of fabric that are equal in size -2 cuts of thin quilt batting that is equal in size to the fabric -thread (doy)

1) Iron your fabric, really, really well.

2) Cut four pieces of fabric that are equal in size. Lay one piece of fabric (right side up) over some quilt batting, being very generous so that there is excess batting on all sides of the fabric.

3) Pin the fabric on the batting, being super excessive with the pins. You want the fabric locked in tight and not moving around on you!

4) Pick a thread that is the exact shade of your fabric. In 5-8 spots around the middle of the fabric, sew a few stitches – making sure to back stitch to secure the fabric to the batting. Cut the excess threads.

5) Remove the pins from the fabric and batting (this will piss you off because you just spent so much time putting them on, but trust me, m’kay?), and then lay another piece of fabric face down on top of the fabric and batting. The pretty (or “right”) sides of the fabric should be together. Pin heavily.

6) Sew a basic stitch around three sides of the curtain, leaving parts of one of the shorter sides unsewn, stopping the stitches about four inches from the end. In laymen’s terms, you’ll sew all the way around this whole thing, except for 4 inches leading up to one of the ends.

7) Remove the fabric from the sewing machine, and lay it on a flat surface. Cut the extra fabric off from around the side. On the side that is still unsewn, peel back the fabric, and cut the excess quilt batting off.

8) Turn the fabric rightside in. Then, iron all the edges, pressing carefully to get a crisp seam.

Side note: my friend bought me that iron for our wedding. We were roommates before Troy and I got married, and later were neighbors. She said she bought the iron so that I would stop using hers. Likely, since I used it a lot.

9) Using a hot iron and a spray bottle full of water, fold down one edge of the unsewn side, and iron a seam.

Flip it over and do the same to the other side.

Secure with pins.

10) Sew the unfinished hemmed edges together.

You’re done! Don’t worry, I made another one too; I don’t have two different types of curtains. 🙂

Left: after Right: before

Congrats! Now, you have DIY thermal curtains to keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. And the best part is, you don’t have to show the world your bloomers. Unless you want to. Totally your call.

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This post was originally published in January 2014. It has been retested and updated with reader feedback.

Perfect timing! We’ve been in our house for 6 months and finally decided to do something about curtains in our bedroom, of course we can’t find any insulating/light blocking ones that aren’t plain. Now I’ll just make some! Thanks for the tutorial!

I love light blocking curtains–not so much for the weather, as blocking sunlight in the summer. It gets light so much earlier here, like about 4 in the morning for awhile, because of the earth tilt or something. Can’t stand it! Plus it heats up the house. What really gets me is the way people in this state don’t seem to believe in curtains. AT. ALL. What is up with that? I do not want to see you walking around in your tatty undies, people!! Cover your windows at night if you are gonna walk around like that. And I really don’t care that you have so-called swanky shit in your house! Take pictures and post it somewhere if you are that proud of it!! If you have no curtains, don’t go thinking people aren’t going to look out of politeness, it’s just plain human nature. And if you are into that kind of exhibitionist thing, again, take pictures and post them somewhere and let the rest of us have an eye break…um-kay?? Sorry, had to get that rant out.

There’s a product that would work even better than batting. It’s called InsulBrite and is specifically designed for this exact purpose. It looks like a batting but it’s embedded with heat-reflective fibers to keep the cold out/in. Since it’s made by The Warm Company, it should behave just like batting in your pattern. NAYY, just a fan. I’ve used it in curtains, trivets, iron travel bags, and even to cover our dog door in the winter to keep the cold air from leaking in around the sides. I needed so much for projects that I invested in a whole bolt!

1. Can add a fixed valance with a rod pocket for a ruffled look and seal at top of window. 2. Sew a pleating band at the top edge and use pleating hooks. Nice drapery look. 3. Insert grommets and use a large curtain rod.

This is exactly what I planned to do for our new house. I already have some purchased blackout curtains, but I wanted insulated ones. I’d planned on taking the curtains I have , buying batting, and more blackouts for the backing. With different curtains for the back, I’ll have a change of decor for summer and winter. Thanks for assuring me I’m not crazy.